Our History

Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE) was founded in January 2003 by a group of undergraduate students at Brown University. During the Swearer Center Winter Break Projects, students spend one week learning about social issues in Providence. The students who participated in the project on homelessness and housing were so inspired by their exploration and so concerned by the what they saw that they decided to start Brown’s first and only organization dedicated to service and advocacy for the homeless. They made it their goal to end homelessness in the state of Rhode Island. HOPE is currently in its 12th year of collaboration with its partners on housing and homelessness issues, and it continues to grow in order to expand its reach in the community.